Brazilian Taison is poised to step into the ring if Abramovich finally decides to take it on the chin over £50m flop – see him in action here
Fernando Torres has a month to prove to Rafa Benitez that he can once again be the player he was at Liverpool.
And Chelsea have already lined up a Brazilian striker who will be ready to step straight into the side after Christmas if Torres’ Stamford Bridge nightmare continues.
Metalist Kharkiv star Taison was at Stamford Bridge to watch Wednesday’s goalless draw with Fulham, amid reports from his South American homelamd that he will sign a £10million deal next week ahead of the opening of the January transfer window.
The 24-year-old, a former Internacional team-mate of the Blues’ new midfield schemer Oscar, was tracked in the summer.
Taison wowed worldwide earlier this month when he scored this stunning Europa League goal, reminiscent of Marco Van Basten’s 1988 volley for Holland against Russia, for Metalist three weeks ago.
Benitez, currently on a short-term deal until the end of the season, believes Torres can rediscover the qualities that made him the most coveted striker in Europe before his £50m British record move from Anfield to SW6 almost two years ago.
The former Liverpool chief has devised a new fitness regime specifically designed to return Torres to his best and will change Chelsea’s tactical approach to create extra space for him to run into.
Benitez feels it is too early to give up on Torres after just a week back in harness together, despite the growing frustrations of the Chelsea fans with a player they had backed to the hilt until earlier this season.
Asked directly about Torres’ contribution in the back-to-back goalless draws with Manchester City and Fulham over the past week, Benitez said: “We have had, maybe, five training sessions.
“It’s still too early. But for me we are watching things that are positive.”
But even Benitez does not have limitless patience with a player who has now gone 648 minutes without a Premier League goal and who has managed just one shot on target in his two games in charge at Chelsea.
Unless Torres shows signs that he is on the way back to his best, Benitez will be prepared to tell owner Roman Abramovich that he fears he is facing a lost cause.
And with Taison already seemingly in-bound, that would spark a January hunt for yet another front-man to offer Benitez alternatives – Bayer Leverkusen’s £22m-rated German Andre Schurrle is the front-runner after being scouted regularly in recent weeks.
Chelsea are also set to complete the £4m signing of another Brazilian – 18-year-old Fluminense right-back Wallace will join their junior ranks in January.
